Mrs. Bingel was born to Joseph and Rose Etta Stonebarger on April 15, 1924, in La Plata, now a ghost town in La Plata Canyon. One of 11 children, she grew up there and attended a one-room school on the Dryside. Her family moved to Silverton when she was 16.

In 1941, She married George Bingel in Aztec.

They continued to live in Silverton, where they raised a family of seven children and established several local businesses, including a laundromat, hardware store, the local campground, a propane business and a recreational hall called the 8-Ball for the town’s youth.

After her retirement, Mrs. Bingel also was a well-known employee at the Bent Elbow Restaurant.

After her husband died in 1990, Mrs. Bingel continued to live in Silverton until asthma forced her to move to Durango in 1999.

Mr. Bingel enjoyed doing The Durango Herald crossword puzzles, crocheting, car rides, rooting for the Denver Broncos and doing arts and crafts. She loved animals, especially her poodles and her cat. Her family said it was fortunate Mrs. Bingel had numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren because one of her favorite activities was to attend birthday parties.

“Wilma was, perhaps, best-known for her great love of her savior, Jesus Christ,” her family said. “She never left on a trip without her beloved Bible, and she read it at least three times from cover to cover. Wilma had a Scripture for every situation, and would dispense advice kindly and with love.”

Mrs. Bingel was a member of the Victorious Life Fellowship in Durango and organized Vacation Bible School in Silverton for many years.

Mrs. Bingel was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, George Bingel; son Richard Bingel in 1978; and four grandchildren.

A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, at the Silverton Public School Gymnasium, 1160 Snowden St. The Revs. Stan Formby and Mark Lawson will officiate. Burial will occur at Hillside Cemetery in Silverton after the service.